Tight ends give Bruins' offense hope

UCLA tight end Logan Paulsen looks to turn up field after making a reception during a recent practice at UCLA. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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UCLA tight end Ryan Moya reaches up to catch a pass just ahead of the outstretched arm of strong safety Tony Dye during recent practice at Spaulding Field. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

UCLA tight end Logan Paulsen looks to turn up field after making a reception during a recent practice at UCLA. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LOS ANGELES -- At some point, perhaps even at 8:45 a.m. on Monday, the "Relentlessly Positive" placard that's playing its sophomore season in the UCLA football locker room has got to become annoying.

After all, you'd have to dig way down to Chinatown to unearth a certified jewel in the Bruin offense to feel even a more appropriate "Remotely Positive" or "Relatively Positive" about the current situation.

Consider that the Bruin starting quarterback -- redshirt freshman Kevin Prince -- has exactly the same college football game experience as I do.

Note that the offensive line corps has more and bigger bodies from which to choose but that "all five positions, really, are wide open," according to Bruin left tackle Jeff Baca (Mission Viejo), who had eight starts on the spaghetti strainer-like unit that let even rigatoni slip through the holes.

Remember that the running game ran in place last season, getting ranked last in the Pac-10 (82.8 yards per game, 2.6 yards per play) and heaping all the offensive weight on the novice arm and playmaking of third-stringer-turned-starting quarterback Kevin Craft.

The new and rehabbed veteran legs should bolster the unit, but like everything else in the offense, these running backs are untested despite Coach Rick Neuheisel's complimentary assessment of "promising."

In theory, the offense should be much improved over the last season's patchwork job that ranked as the league's third-worst with averages of 283.2 yards and 17.7 points per game.

The rebirth that comes with a new season is always "positive." The memory of the last season provides the Bruins offense with even more reason to play "relentlessly" in order to gain experience and achieve Neuheisel's elevated expectation of getting invited to one of the conference's seven associated bowls.

They have one position where Neuheisel will find his ideal "healthy competition," and that is at tight end, where redshirt seniors Ryan Moya and Logan Paulsen can be counted upon to anchor a two-tight end formation in offensive coordinator Norm Chow's scheme.

Both took the Spaulding Field for morning workouts on Monday. Moya, who had offseason surgery for cartilage and Achilles repairs this past spring, has been recently nursing a swollen left knee but is confident that he will be back to full-strength by the time you read this column.

Moya added 10 pounds to his frame through offseason weight training. He's listed at 6 feet, 3 inches and 245 pounds, which makes him a big, mobile target for a young quarterback who'll needs to hit his marks quickly.

Last season, Moya emerged as one of the Bruins' highlights in a largely low-lit season. His 38 receptions, which amounted to 364 yards and three touchdowns, made him an All-Pac-10 second team selection. He had the most catches by a UCLA tight end since 2005, a feat that might have been helped by his comfort working with roommate and then-quarterback Craft.

Moya's opportunity to break out came when starter Logan Paulsen went down with a fractured right foot in last season's opener against Tennessee. Paulsen, 22, had surgery September, missed the rest of the season and was granted a substitute year of eligibility because of a medical hardship.

Paulsen's toughness and leadership was sorely missed last season. His 6-foot-5 frame is six pounds lighter at 260 pounds, but he's happiest about shedding the cast and boot that had him on crutches for more than three months.

"I'm excited about my health, my speed and I feel confident about the foot," said Paulsen, who's wearing new adidas shoes this year with custom orthotics. "I'm hoping to pick up where I left off."

Paulsen had started 23 consecutive games before being sidelined. He had a combined 39 receptions for 475 yards and a touchdown in 2006 and 2007 before injuring his foot after just one 18-yard catch against Tennessee in 2008.

A hulking presence, sizeable blocker and dependable receiver, Paulsen will face strong competition for a start with the more on-the-move-playing Moya, if the team had to field a single tight end. But both will undoubtedly see plenty of playing time.

"We'll see how it goes," said a diplomatic Moya about the competition with Paulsen. "Hopefully, he (Paulsen) will add depth to our position and become another weapon."

The Bruins need all the trusted tools they can get. Slingshots, spitballs and lawn darts won't cut it anymore for an offense that Neuheisel has had to piece together with duct tape and silly string.

If the ball can make it's way to Moya and Paulsen there's a reason enough to be "Relentlessly Positive."

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